Interplay between polymorphisms and methylation in the H19/IGF2 gene region may contribute to obesity in Mexican-American children

Abstract

Imprinted genes often affect body size-related traits such as weight. However, the association of imprinting with obesity, especially childhood obesity, has not been well studied. Mexican-American children have a high prevalence, approaching 50%, of obesity and/or overweight. In a pilot study of 75 Mexican-American children, we analyzed the relationships among obese/overweight status, methylation status and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) status at a CpG site in a differentially methylated region (DMR) of the imprinted H19/IGF2 locus. We observed a significant difference in SNP rs10732516 frequency between boys and girls among the overweight and obese children but not among the lean children. We also found that children with lower methylation of the polymorphic CpG site (CpG4) in the H19 DMR had higher birth weights than did children with higher methylation (P = 0.04). Our results suggest that CpG4 methylation status may be associated with childhood obesity in Mexican-American children in a sex-specific manner.

Long Noncoding RNA H19 Promotes Neuroinflammation in Ischemic Stroke by Driving Histone Deacetylase 1–Dependent M1 Microglial Polarization

“…3 Polymorphisms of the H19 gene have been demonstrated to alter its expression and are associated with risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, such as obesity and high blood pressure. [4][5][6][7] H19 is strongly expressed during embryogenesis and subsequently downregulated after birth, but can be reactivated under hypoxic conditions. 8,9 Thus, we hypothesized that H19 might participate in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke.…”

Methylation Status of CYP27B1 and IGF2 Correlate to BMI SDS in Children with Obesity

“…According to Chen et al [32], in women suffering from obesity IGF2 methylation level was lowest in subcutaneous adipose tissue when compared with that in visceral adipose tissue or muscle. While studying Mexican-American lean and obese children Hernandez-Valerio et al [33] found that children with lower IGF2/H19 methylation had higher birth weights than did children with higher methylation. Heijmans et al [34] stated a negative association between H19 methylation and body size.…”

Long noncoding RNA variations in cardiometabolic diseases

“…[140][141][142][143][144][145] A pilot study in 90 obese Mexican-American children showed a significant difference in the frequency of rs10732516 in CpG4 of H19 DMR between obese boys and girls. 146 A higher frequency of CpG4 methylation and a higher frequency of obesity were found among boys than girls. 146 Similarly, higher levels of methylation of H19 DMR was demonstrated in obese infants.…”

“…146 A higher frequency of CpG4 methylation and a higher frequency of obesity were found among boys than girls. 146 Similarly, higher levels of methylation of H19 DMR was demonstrated in obese infants. 147 The CpG4 methylation status may be associated with childhood obesity in a gender-specific manner.…”